Saved Cases

Corin v Patton (1990) 169 CR 540

Facts

Ms Patton owned a residential property as joint tenant (2 people own the same property together, but they both own all of it. Each had the right to survivorship. Contrast with tenancy in common where they own a share) with her husband.

Being terminally ill, Ms Patton had her solicitor draw up an agreement to make it a tenancy in common and give her half to her brother on trust.

However while they were executed, no attempts were made to register the transfer of property.

Issue

The High Court had to determine whether the gift had been effective or whether the husband was entitled to the property.

Held

The Courts did not consider the Ms Patton had done everything necessary to make the transfer binding and the mortgagee (bank) held the documents at all times.

As a result, Ms Patton could still have withdrawn the transaction and so the brother had no right to the property.